Die and shearing mechanism.



Patented Nov. 14

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J. BEST, ADMINISTRATRIX.

DIE AND SHEARING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7 1907.

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DIE AND SHEARING MEGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 7, 1907.

Patented NOV. 14, 191 1.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G J l COLUMBIAIPLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

T. 0. BEST, DEGD. J. BEST, ADMINIS TBATRIX. m2 AND snmame MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1907.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

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APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 7, 1907.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0" WASHINGTON. n. c.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. BEST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; JENNIE BEST ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAIDTHOMAS C. BEST, DECEASED.

DIE AND SHEARING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 7, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS 0. BEST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Die and ShearingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for forming andcutting the edges of metal articles.

In the structure herein illustrated and described the mechanism isdesigned for the manufacture of boiler brackets, but it will beunderstood that the invention is equally applicable for the constructionof other articles such as structural brackets, etc.

Referring to the drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation of a die presshaving the mechanism forming the subject-matter of my invention mountedtherein. Fig. 2 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing thefrontplate of the casing of the upper member of the mechanism removed,the shearing blades retracted, and a sheet of metal between the upperand lower members. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing theshearing blades projected to the position occupied by them aftertrimming the edges of the sheet of metal operated on by the dies. Fig.4: is a side elevation, showing part of the mechanism in section, theshearing blades being retracted as in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similarto Fig. 4 and shows the parts in the position represented in Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation onthe line 6 of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower member of themechanism. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the upper member of the mecha nism.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a finished boiler bracket made bythemechanism illustrated in the preceding views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. the numerals 10 and 11representbrackets rigidly secured to the upper member of the die press.The upper die 10 is inclosed in a casing formed of the plates 22 and 23,which are suitably secured together, as by bolts 20. The sides 22, 22 ofthe casing are parallel while the sides 23, 23 converge toward the top.This casing is attached to the brackets 10, 11, by means of bolts 41passing through slots 42 in said brackets rigidly secured at their innerends to the casing. By means of this arrangement, the entire casing hasa vertical movement relative to the press limited by the length of theslots 42. When the casing is in its uppermost position, the upper faceof the die inclosed therein contacts with the upper member of the press.Means are provided in the form of gag plates 15, 15 for retaining thedie in its lower position. The gag plates are removable and whenwithdrawn the die is free to move to its uppermost position for apurpose hereinafter described.

- The die40 is rigidly fixed to the casing.

Itsfront and back surfaces are recessed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, therecesses being occupied by shearing blades 1 and 2. These shearingblades are attached to the die by means of bolts 14 passing throughslots 3 in the shearing blades and rigidly fixed at their inner ends inthe die. By this arrangement the dies are movable in a vertical plane toan extent limited by the length of the slots 3. In order to project theblades 1 and 2 beyond the surface of the'die, I provide gags 7 ,whichmay be inserted in the recesses above the dies, as shown in Figs. 3 and5.

It will be apparent that when the gag plates 15, 15 are removed andpressure applied. the casing inclosing the upper die will be raiseduntil its upper surface contacts with the under face of the upper memberof the press. The shearing knives 8 and 9 being of a length greater thanthe thickness of the die, their lower edges will project beyond thelower face of the die when the latter is in its upper position with thegag plates removed. The insertion of the gag plate has the effect ofincreasing the depth of the spaces in which the blades 8 and 9reciprocate to a sufficient extent to permit them to recede to a pointwhere their lower edges are flush with the under surface of the die. Theremoval of the gags 1'5, 15, on the contrary, has the eifect ofdiminishing the thickness of the upper die, thereby shortening thespaces in which the blades 8 and 9 reciprocate and causing their loweredges to project below the lower face thereof when the die contacts withthe upper member of the press.

The lower die is surrounded peripherally by shearing bladescorresponding in form to those on the upper member and of such size thatthe upper blades may pass outside thereof. The shearing blades are soarranged that the sheet metal operated on will, after being given itsfinal form, be trimmed in such a manner that its edges will be normal.to the adjacent surfaces. This object is accomplished by inclining theupper shearing blades 8 and 9 in the manner shown in the drawings, itbeing noted that the blades are substantially at right angles to theunder surface of the adjacent portion of the die. In the constructionshown, the movable shearing blades are attached to the female die, thelower or male die being provided with the stationary shearing blades.The strengthening rib shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings is formed by theelevation 1 upon the lower die and the corresponding depression 4: inthe upper die. The corrugations 34 shown in Fig. 9, which are designedfor the reception of rollers, are formed in a mannersimilar to thestrengthening rib 4 The elevations 34c on the male die and depressions34 in the female die are designed for this purpose. The shearing blade 8and the co-acting blade on the lower die are formed with notches 42 andelevations 43, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, corresponding in form with thelower member of the finished bracket illustrated in Fig. 9.

For the purpose of keeping the dies and shearing blades cool while inuse upon hot metal, I have shown both the upper and lower dies cored andprovided with branch connections for circulating water. The form of thecavity in the upper member is illustrated in the drawings. This cavityhas an opening 4:5-shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8o-f rectangular formcommunicating with the upper surface'of the die. Holes 31 are drilledfrom the upper surface of the dieto the top of the recesses occupied bythe shearing blades 1 and 2, and grooves 30 in the upper surface of thedie connect the opening 15 with the drilled holes 31. By thisconstruction, means are provided for permitting the water to flow fromthe cavity 12 to the shearing blades 1 and 2 when the die is in itsupper position contacting with the head of the press. I have also shownbranch passages 16 leading from the cavity 12 to.

the sides of the space occupied by the shearing blades and also openings32 leading from said cavity to the under surface of the die. By means ofthe opening 4c8shown in Figs. 1 and 2water may be supplied by means of aflexible pipe, or otherwise.

I have also shown a cavity 50 in the lower die which may be suppliedwith cooling water in the manner similarly described in connection withthe upper die. Passages 7 0 lead from the cavity 50 to the surface ofthedie.

In operation, the gag plates 15, 15 are placed in position and the gags7, 7 are removed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. When the parts arearranged in this manner, the blades 1, 2, 8 and 9 may all be movedupward to inoperative position, and are so moved when they contact withthe metal be tween the dies. The metal plates are operated on whileheated. The circulation of water above referred to prevents thetemperature from rising to a point injurious to the temper of theshearing blades. After the heated plate has been properly shaped, thepress is eased up and the gags 15, 15 are removed and the pressure againapplied. The pressure causes the upper dieto move up into contact withthe upper member of the press, thereby projecting the blades 8 and 9below the under surface thereof. This movement causes the blades 8 and 9to pass from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4: to that shown in Figs.3 and 5 the result of which is the shearing off of two edges of themetal plate. The other edges of the plate are similarly sheared off bythe blades 1 and 2 in the following manner. The press is again eased upto a height, which will admit of the insertion of the gags 7 and 7 intheir position, above the blades 1 and 2. The in sertion of the gags 7and 7 forces the blades 1 and 2 below the surface of the die asillustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. The members of the press are thereuponagain brought together, and the shearing off of both sides isaccomplished, thus making all brackets a uniform size.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the formation of the boilerbracket- Fig. 9is accomplished by three movements of the press, thefirst for the purpose of shaping the metal, at which time the shearingblades are retracted, and the second and third for the purpose ofshearing the edges, at which time the blades are projected beyond thesurface of the die.

One of the important features of the shearing blades is the novel mannerin which they are designed. Every shear blade is ar ranged so that ithas two, and in some cases four cutting edges.

In Fig. 2 it will be observed that the upper edges of shear blades 8 and9 are beveled both ways to an angle corresponding to the lower surfaceof the top member of the press, so that when one cutting edge of theblade becomes dull, it can be turned over and the other or sharper edgeput into service. The upper edge being arranged so that no matter whichway the blade is turned the angle of the working surface of the top edgeof the blade will be parallel with the lower surface of the upper memberof the press. By such an arrangement, the life of the shearing bladesare prolonged double that of an ordinary shear blade, having but onecutting edge.

The elongated holes in all of the upper shear blades as shown in Fig. 2as at 33 and Fig. 8 at 55 and 55 answer two purposes. First, to preventthe blades from dropping out and to hold them at the desired height.Second, they allow bolts to pass through the blade and to be secured tothe body of the die, thereby holding the shear blade guard 23 firmly upagainst the shear blade, and preventing the shear blades from springingaway from their desired position when cutting heavy plates, which wouldoccur with long blades were it not for some such device. The bottomshear blades are also arranged in a novel way. Blades 35 and 53 in Fig.1 have two cutting edges, while blades 51, 52 and 54 have four cuttingedges. The top and bottom surface of blades 51, 52 and 54 are exactlyalike, and the bolt holes are laid out in such a way as to permit thembeing turned in any direction. WVhen the first edge becomes worn, ordull, it can be turned around and the other edge used. When this becomesdull, the blades can be turned upside down, and the other two edges canbe used, until they also become dull. This arrangement is made possible,not only by the holes being laid out in such a manner as to permit theirbeing reversible, but by countersinking the bolt holes on both sides ofthe blade, which is done in this case. The top and bottom of shear blade35 are curved and exactly alike. The cutting being done on the narrowedge, hence it has but two cutting edges. When the upper edge becomesdull, it can be turned upside down, and the bottom edge used.

Shear blade 53 has two cutting edges, which is accomplished by thearrangement of the holes in the blade corresponding with the holes oneach side of the die, also by countersinking the holes on both sides ofthe blades, which renders them interchangeable. Vhen the cutting edgesof these corner blades become dull, they are changed from one side ofthe die to the other, thereby pro viding two cutting edges. Shear blade51 in Figs. 1 and 7, is provided with projections both top and bottom,the die being cut away at 60 toreceive the projections thus holding theblade firmly in position. By providing the project-ions in both sides ofthe blade and countersinking the bolt holes on both faces the blade maybe inverted and turned end for end, thus utilizing all four cuttingedges.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the numeral 24 designates a separator bolt, which isused for the purpose of preventing plates 22 from being jammed againstthe shear blades 1 and 2 when bolts 14 are screwed up tightly.

While I have described my invention as applied to the manufacture of theboiler bracket shown in Fig. 9, it will be apparent that it is equallyadapted for use in other connections.

I claim:

1. A die having a portion of its surface formed by the edge of anindependently movable shearing blade.

2. A die having a portion of its surface formed by the edge of ashearing blade and means for projecting said shearing blade beyond theremainder of the die surface.

3. A die having its outer portion composed of movable blades, means forretracting said movable blades flush with the remainder of the diesurface in which position the edges of the blades form part of the diesurface, and means for projecting said movable parts beyond theremainder of the die surface.

4. A die provided with a recess for a shearing knife, the depth of therecess being such that the knife may recede to inactive position, andmeans for projecting the knife beyond the face of the die.

5. A die press and die, a movable shearing blade upon the die, and meanswhereby pressure may be exerted upon the die without actuating theshearing blade.

6. A die press and die, a movable shearing blade mounted upon the die,means for rendering the shearing blade either operative or inoperativewhen pressure is exerted upon the die.

7. In combination, a die, a movable shearing blade adjacent thereto, anda gag-plate whereby pressure may be transmitted to the shearing blade.

8. A die, an adjacent shearing blade movable relative to the die, and agag-plate whereby the shearing blade may be projected beyond the surfaceof the die.

9. A die provided with a movable shearing blade, means whereby the blademay recede to inactive position when the die contacts with the materialoperated on, and a gag-plate whereby the blade may be projected to itsoperative position and retained in said position when pressure isexerted upon the material being operated on.

10. A die movably mounted upon one member of a die press, a shearingknife movably mounted upon the die, and means for spacing the die fromthe press member in such manner as to permit the shearing knife torecede to an inactive position.

-11. A die movably mounted upon one member of a die press, a shearingknife movably mounted on the die, the depth of the shearing knife beinggreater than the thickness of the die at the point where it is located,so that when the die is moved into contact with the press member theedge of the shearing knife is projected beyond the face of the die.

12. A pair of dies, each provided with shearing blades at its periphery,the shearing blades of one of the dies being mov-' toward each other,one of said surfaces being substantially plane and the other surfacecurved, ribs in the plane surface, a rib connecting the plane surfacewith the'curved surface and shearing knives around the periphery of thedie, each knife being substantially normal to the adjacent surface ofthe die and conforming in shape to the edge of the die.

15. A die provided with a cavity, means for supplying water to saidcavity, an opening from said cavity to the top of the die, grooves inthe top of the die extending from said opening, a recess at the side ofthe die for a shearing knife, and openings leading from said recess tosaid grooves.

16. A die, a casing spaced therefrom, a movable shear blade between thedie and easing, said die being provided with a chamber for coolingwater, and outlets leading from said chamber to the shear blade.

17. In combination, a bracket forming die, and a shear blade movablyattached to the die, and arranged to work at an angle to the pressmember.

18. In combination, a die, a press member, holding brackets fixedthereto, and elongated holes in the brackets through which bolts pass tosuspend the die body and permit of its vertical movement.

19. A die mechanism comprising a stationary member, a die movablysecured to said member, a shearing knife movably mounted on said die andarranged to move at an angle to said stationary member and adapted to beactuated by contact therewith, said blade being provided with oppositecutting edges at one end and being oppositely beveled at its non-cuttingend.

20. A die, a shear blade mounted thereon, said shear blade having itscutting edges conforming to the surface of the die, means for suspendingthe blade whereby it has a limited movement relative to the die, saidblade being so formed that it can be used on opposite sides of the die.

21. In combination, a die having part of its surface curved, and areversible shearing blade forming an edge portion of the die and havingits sides curved from end to end and provided with four cutting edges.

22. In combination, a die having part of its'surface curved, and areversible shearing blade forming an edge portion of the die and havingits sides curved transversely and provided with two cutting edges.

23. A concave die provided with an adj acent shear blade having one edgeconcave and attached to said die.

24. A die provided with a shear blade, having corner pieces arranged tobe interchangeable on opposite sides of the die.

25. A die having a movable shear blade adj acent thereto and relativelymovable with respect to the die, said die having a projection adjacentto the shear blade and the edge of said blade having a correspondingprojection.

26. A die having a movable shear blade adjacent thereto and relativelymovable with respect to the die, said die having a projection adjacentto the shear blade and the opposite edges of said blade havingprojections corresponding to the projections on the die and renderingthe blade reversible.

27. A die having a shear blade adjacent to one side thereof, the diehaving a projection beside the blade and the blade having correspondingprojections on two opposite edges, and bolt holes countersunk on the twosides of the blade, thus giving the die four cutting edges.

28. A die having a separator bolt attached to the outer casing andprojecting through a shear blade, thereby preventing the pinching of theblade.

29. A die, a shear blade, projections upon the opposite edges of saidshear blade, a recess in said die to receive the shear blade, saidrecess being formed with depressions to receive the projections upon theshear blade, said depressions and projections being symmetricallyarranged so that the shear blade mady be reversed edge for edge and endfor en 30. A die comprising two surfaces disposed at an angle, astraight diagonal rib connecting said surfaces, one of said surfacesbeing provided with smaller ribs on each side of said main rib andsubstantially parallel therewith, said smaller ribs being limited to theone surface and not extending over along the other surface.

31. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members, one of which has a projecting ridgeover which the blank is adapted to be bent by the other member; shearingblades adapted to trim the edges of said blank when so bent; andmechanism for operating the same, substantially as described.

32. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members, of a shearing blade connected with amember for shearing the edges of the several sides of the articleformed; and mechanism for operating the same, substantially asdescribed.

33. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members; of a shearing blade connected with amember; and mechanism for operating said members and said bladesynchronously or not as desired, substantially as described.

34:. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members, of a shearing blade connected with amember; and mechanism for operating said members without the operationof said blade, substantially as described.

35. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members; of a shearing blade connected with amember; mechanism for operating the same; and means for preventing theoperation of said blade during the operation of said members,substantially as described.

36. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith 00- operating forming members; of a support with which a member hasa sliding connection; a shearing blade connected with said member;mechanism for operating the same; and means for preventing the movementof said member on said support; substantially as described.

37. In a machine for forming lugs and operating the same; and means forchecking the movement of said member on said support while permittingthe movement of said blade on said member, substantially as described.

39. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith cooperating forming members; of shearing blades adapted to shearthe edges of a plurality of sides of the article as it is formed by themembers, substantially as described.

40. In a machine for forming lugs and similar articles, the combinationwith co operating forming members, one of which has a projecting ridgeand operative surfaces at one side of said ridge at an angle to eachother; the other member having a corresponding recess and surfaces,whereby the blank is bent over said ridge and provided with angularflanges, substantially as described.

T. C. BEST.

Witnesses:

W. A. Soo'r'r, A. G. COURTENAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

